York Racecourse, York

I love a day at the races and happen to have quite a lucky streak. I just found out York races was on last weekend, unfortunately I didn't make it but my information and prices were based on this.

The racing is only the start of the fun when it comes to York races, the evening entertainment when the racing is over is an event in itself.
MEETINGS
Here's a quick list of the remaining meetings this year for anyone who might want to have a flutter:

Music Showcase Weekend
27th July - EBF Lyric Stakes and 80s music
28th July - Sky Bet York Stakes and Mcfly
Ebor Festival
22nd-25th August - Thursday is ladies day so get out the heels and hats!

September Meeting
9th September - Press family fun day. Pony racing, bouncy castle and Peppa Pig!
October Finale
12th-13th October. The final meeting of the year.

LOCATION
The racecourse is situated in Dringhouses and is just around a mile and a half fron the train station, it certainly feels like more in heels. Most of the times I have been I have walked from the train station. I've often got a bus back into the town centre, there is no point whatsoever in getting a taxi from the city centre because of the traffic in the town centre, especially on racedays. Buses run every 10 minutes in and out of the city centre so it is just as easy to go by bus as to get a taxi.
Parking is impossible so if you wish to travel to York by car it would be best to park somewhere in or near the town and get a bus to the racecourse.

If you would like to take your helicopter let them know and they can find a spot for you to park it up.
PRICE

Prices vary depending on the meeting and the area of the course you want to be in.
The course enclosure is now around £7.
The Grandstand and Paddock varies from £10 - £20.
The Count Stand from £25-£35
The Melrose Club Lounge £97
The Ebor Festival is always more expensive but if you are planning on going for the whole meeting they offer discounts for example The Grandstand and Paddock is £28 per day, £65 for three days or £80 for four days.

Junior and Senior prices are also available along with early booking and group discounts so it's worth checking the prices a couple of weeks before you go.
Private boxes are available for 16 people or more starting at a mere £149 per person :)

Or go even further and book a private meeting package or even a wedding package.
FACILITIES
Wheelchair access, toilets, baby changing, lifts, first aid, cash machines, bars, restaurants, betting shops, tote and big screens.

FOOD & DRINK
There's a good selection of food and drink available for every budget at the racecourse, from a champagne reception and gourmet dining to a hot beef baguette and a pint.
There are a few restaurants, champagne and seafood, carvery's and also snack bars. There are plenty of places to get a drink but it does get busy in between races so I would advise you to get two at a time (whilst drinking responsibly of course haha).
Many people take picnics and sandwiches with them and nobody has any problem with this. There are also plenty of litter bins around so the place is kept clean.

MY EXPERIENCE
Well I have lost count of the number of times I have been to York races, I have been in every section of it and have to say the most enjoyable time was when a group of us paid a fiver to get in and sat on the grass in the Course Enclosure in the baking sun in jeans and a T-shirt with a picnic and a few cans.
You are still up close to the racing, still have bookmakers, a bar, snack bar and toilets it's just you don't have seats (unless you take your own) and don't have any shelter.

I have also been dressed up to the nines in the "semi-posh end" in dresses and heels sipping champagne but everything was crowded. I still had to queue for 10 minutes to go to the toilet, I enjoyed looking at the outfits but I would have rather had the money it cost to go into the County Stand to spend of food, drink and betting!
The happy medium is The Grandstand and Paddock, which is where I normally go, you still have picnic benches to sit outside if you like, a covered indoor seating area if the weather isn't great and the same long queues for the bar and toilets.

I attended a wedding at the racecourse and it was stunning and really well decorated but it was winter and poured down so any course side pictures went out of the window.
For families the September family day is a great day out and the prices are well reduced for this day, there are lots of activities and entertainment for this day and for under 16s I think it's only £1 entry.

Children also love going to the paddock area on any race day and looking at the horses being paraded around close up, it get very busy around this area sometimes though so just be careful.
If you haven't been to the races before and would like to go, York is in my opinion one of the best out there. I have been to a few and the only two that were memorably good were York and Newmarket.